Countries with lower taxes and a better quality of living?
I’m currently stuck in Denmark, and it feels like I’m in a never ending financial tug of war with the government, saying goodbye to 50% of my hard earned cash each month. Add a 25% VAT on everything and throw in some hefty taxes on utilities, electricity etc, and you’ve got a situation that has me questioning if this is the life I signed up for.
Living in a place where the cold weather feels like an extra tax on happiness, I’m craving a change.
I’m all about individualism, self-sufficiency, and independence. So here’s the big question: Where in the world are you guys finding that sweet spot between low taxes and a great quality of life?
As I contemplate my escape plan, Cyprus, Portugal, and Dubai are on my radar. I dream of living in a country where taxes don’t feel like daylight robbery. But, and it’s a big ‘but,’ my online income isn’t quite flexing its muscles enough for a move to the streets of Dubai just yet.
So, where are you residing? What’s the tax scene like in your corner of the world? Are you doing a happy dance every payday, or are you, like me, wistfully staring at your bank statement, wondering where all your money went?
And let’s not forget the living conditions. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your overall quality of life?
I’m not just asking for my benefit, this is a collective quest for a better lifestyle.
Your input is greatly appreciated!
(Just to be crystal clear, I’m not fishing for a lecture on why I should be grateful for my current Danish situation or any unrelated personal opinions. If your input doesn’t contribute constructively, save it for another time.)
This is not really how tax works. I wish employers & recruiters would quote income post tax, it would shift the mindset of 'The government is taking half my income' to 'I'm automatically paying the government in one lump sum for the many services and infrastructures they provide to me and my country.'
This is literally how income tax works. It’s tax on income. You can try and advertise it however you want but it’s still income you would otherwise get if the government didn’t take it
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If anything it's like paying back a personal loan. Only in this case you've already reaped the benefits of the services and infrastructure provided to you by the government over the course of the last financial year, your income tax at the end of the year is just the loan payment to cover your usage.
The only unusual part is that the repayment amounts are tied to your level of income. This is to spread the cost across everyone in the most "fair" way possible. A marginal increase of $1000 in repayment is nothing to a millionaire but a significant amount to someone living below the poverty line or a student or something.
Tax is not theft, it's payment for something you've indirectly purchased.